Steam garment finisher set



Jan. 27, 1942. P. E. NORRIS I STEAM GARMENT FINISHER SET Filed Jan. 5,1940 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM GARMENTFINISHER SET Perry E. Norris, Chicago, Ill. Application January 5, 1940,Serial No. 312,538

1 1 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for steam finishinggarments and pressing the same at the time of manufacturing or aftercleaning and also to assist in the process of steam cleaning or drycleaning such garments, with other. and further objects and purposes inview, as follows:

The primary purpose of the steam garment finisher set, comprising myinvention is to pro, vide a head having steam chambers inside the casingor shell of a finisher head, whereby the steam under pressure is held ina chamber or multiplicity of chambers and combining therewith a chamberhaving suitable perforations leading through the outer shell thereoffrom a vapor chamber, and to provide more or less dry vapor or wet steamas may be necessary to heat and finish the material of a garment,according to the requirements as to the degree of dry heat or moistureessential to the proper treatment and shaping of the garment.

Another object is to provide a readily accessible adjustable needlevalve assembly to permit the entry of any desired amount of steam intothe vapor chamber and to control the condition of dryness as Well as theamount of steam and moisture passing from the steam pressure chamberinto the steam vapor chamber, and provide such assembly in a singlereadily replaceable unit.

A still further object is to include with the steam garment finisher setone or more finisher heads combining the elements of the set, wherewitha control is provided, cooperable with pressure exerted against the heador heads to allow more or less steam to pass through the finisher, asmay be desired, according to the amount of pressure exerted against thehead by the operator when pressing the material of the garment againstthe finisher body, and also to provide more or less moisture, accordingto the condition, kind or quality of the garment material.

Other and further objects and purposes will appear during the progressof the description, as

illustrated by the drawing, which, it is specifically understood, is forthe purpose of illustration only, as the design of my invention may bechanged to meet the contingencies of reduction to practice within thescope of what is claimed.

Of the drawing: I

Fig. l is a longitudinal section of an egg form finisher head,illustrating in detail the internal structural formv and mechanism.

- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail of. an

auxiliary manual and spring operated steam valve control, for use aspart of the set.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a clamping device to hold valve as of Fig. 2open.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary portion of a head shown in longitudinalsection illustrating a push button control.

Like numerals and characters indicate like parts throughout the drawingand character letters combined with any numeral indicates deviations inthe design of similar parts.

The steam garment finisher set, as illustrated, consists of a head as ofFig. 1, a control valve as of Figs. 2 and 3, as follows:

The setup for the installation of the steam finisher, set consists ofsteam supply means for the following mechanical structure consisting ofthe finisher head substantially the same as that illustrated by Fig. '1which consists of a hollow body I,,having an inlet port 2, adapted tobemounted on an upright steam feed pipe, a transverse partition 4 dividingsaid hollow body I into a steam pressure chamber 3 having an inlet 2, avapor chamber 5 being formed onthe upper side of partition or floor 4, amultiplicity of small perforations P (preferably of a size about No, 55drill being used) communicating with the atmosphere are disposed throughthe upper shell of chamber 5. A supporting pillar is provided in thechamber 5 between the par tition 4 and the inner side of the upper shellof body I, to prevent thepartition 4 from bulging because'of pressure inthe steam chamber 3. A multiplicity of these pillars may be provided inthe larger size heads for the purpose of reinforcement. A needle valveassembly is provided and consists of a unit which is a hollow studfldisposed through the top of the finisher head body I and through thechamber 5 and is threaded into the partition 4 also entering steampressure chamber 3. The bore of stud I is threaded internally to receivea needle valve adjusting screw 8, the pointed end of which projects intosteam passage 9 of sleeve 1 which has vents l0 communicating withchamber 5 from chamber 3.

The steam under pressure in chamber 3 passes through passage 9 intosteamvapor chamber 5, whence the vapor passes out through perforations P, theheat transmitted through partition 4 from chamber 3 tends to dry out theslight amount of steam usually permitted to pass into the steam vaporchamber 5. This steam heat serves to prevent the condensation ofmoistureas long as sufficient live steam under pressure is in thechamber 3; thus a limited volume of steam,

being permitted to enter the chamber the vapor exuding fromtheperforations P will be comparatively dry when used. In case of anycondensation a sump S is disposed lower than the floor formed bypartition 4 and a drain D is provided for any water of condensation tospot moisten material placed thereunder if desired.

Where it is desirable to have steam in greater volume issuing throughperforations P, a manual pressure operated valve II is provided, as perFig. 2, consisting of a suitably threaded tubular coupler shank I2 witha hexagon shoulder H having a tubular piston I3 extending downwardlyinto a cylinder It, the lower end of the piston I3 is provided with aperforated head l9- having a thin expansible pressure sealing lip I5made of any suitable material and which projects forwardly of theperipheral margin of pis-- ton head l9 and is adapted to act as a stopagainst the lower end of the cylinder IE to limit the downward movementof piston 13 as well as to provide sealing means against the by-passingof steam around piston I3, said piston extends into cylinder I6, whichhas an extended external hexagonal flange E around the female threadedbase I I and which provides a seat for a. coil spring I8 disposedupwardly against shoulder H. A-hollow screw 2| having a head 22 whichprovides a valve member across port 2!! and is threaded through the headI4 of piston I3 and also acts as an assembly screw to hold the piston I3in assembled relationship with the cylinder IS.

A casing I of the head as of Fig. l, which has valve assembly IIcombined therewith, functions 'as follows:Pressure against head I causesthe piston I3 to be depressed, moving valve 2-2 to open port and permitthe passage of more or less steam into pressure chamber 3, dependingupon the amount of pressure exerted on top of the head I by theoperator. The needle-valve 8 may be adjusted to meet any need whileusing the valve II or the needle valve assembly may be entirely removedand the hole in the outer shell through which the assembly is disposedmay be plugged.

If less steam is desired than when the piston I3 is depressed, the screw2| in the valve II is provided with passage 24 through the centerthereof which is open at all times; desired to maintain a hotter headthan would be possible if the chamber 3- was only permitted to receivesteam at such times as the valve II was open, as would be the case if nopassage were provided through the screw 2!, to permit a restricted butconstant supply of steam to enter the chambers in the body of the head,a pin 25 is shown inserted through *the passage 24 and which may beremoved to permit the passage of more steam as desired.

It will, therefore, be seen that if the valve- II is held wide open thehead will be hot and more volume of steam delivered but if standingnormally the head will be cooler and the vapor rising therefrom will besupplied via passage 24: only.

The structure of the valve assembly 26 illus trated by Fig. 4, consistsof a sleeve 21 inserted through the top of body I. The sleeve 2! isshown to rest upon the top of partition 4 to which it is held byassembly screw I which has a passage a9 therethrough, another hollowscrew I 29 being slidably disposed through and having a flange restingagainst the inwardly flanged upper-end of sleeve 2T; a button 26 beingthreadedly attached to the upper end of hollow screw Where it is 29which is internally threaded and has an adjustable needle valve a8disposed therethrough, 'so that when the head I is under steam pressureand the button 26 is depressed, the flow of steam from pressure chamber3 is cut off by the seating of the end of needle valve a8 into passagea9. This efiect is desirable where a completely dry finisher head isrequired, after steaming a garment on said head, or some other head ofthe set during the finishing process. The stud screw a1 serves the samepurpose as the stud I of Fig. 1.

The steam garment finisher set generically includes the combination ofFig. 2 with Fig. 4, the sub-combinations consist of 1. The combinationas shown in Fig. 1.

2. The combination of Figs. 1 and 2.

3. The combination as of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

4. The combination as of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the forked clevisdevice is engaged below the flange E and above the flange H compressingthe spring 18 tohold a valve member 2| away from the seat 20- and allowa large volume of steam to enter the chamber 3 of the valve head I.

Having described the objects, purposes, struc-'- ture and operationofthe steam garment finisher set, constituting my invention, so as toenable those versed in the art to make and use the same, I claim:

1 A steam garment finisher head comprising 'a hollow body portion, aninlet for steam disposed at the under side of said body portion andcontiguous with a steam pressure chamber, a floor-like partitionacross'the hollow in said body andforming the floor of a secondsteamvapor chamber disposed on the opposite side of said partition, the outerWall of said body comprising a shell surrounding the last named chamberand being perforated to permit. the egress of steam, a needle valveassembly comprising a sleeve dis posed through the outer shell of saidbody and through said last named chamber and into said partition andhaving a passage leading from said steam pressure chamber through theend of said sleeve and into the second named chamber, an adjustableneedle valve disposed in said sleeve and registering with said passageto regulate the flow of steam through said passage, said head adapted tocouple onto a steam control valve attached between. said head and asupporting'steam supply line, said control valve being capable ofoperation by pressure: exerted by material being pressed. against the;head for finishing.

2. A steam garment. finisher comprising a casing having a steam inlet]communicating with a first chamber and 'a floor-like partitionforming asecond chamber, a needle valve assembly including a stud having a.passage therethrough and. carrying an adjustable needlevalve registering with a port forming a part of said passage communicating withsaidfirst chamber, said needle valve assembly unit disposed in axialalinement with openings through the outer shell of the casing.and'saidpartition, being threadedly secured into said partition, thecasing forming said second chamber beingperforated to provide egress forsteam, said second chamber being provided with a sump-for water ofcondensation, said sump lying belowthe floorlevel formed by saidpartition, said needle valve assembly forming a unit removable from theouter side of the head in its entirety for replacement.

3. A steam garmentfinisher as of claim 2 having a drain opening forea-id sump providing means to dry out steam in the second chamber andutilize water of condensation to spot moisten material placed acrosssaid drain.

4. A steam garment finisher as of claim 2, the needle valve assemblybeing disposed in line with the inlet opening and removable through theinlet.

5. For combination with a steam finisher head of the kind described, asteam valve unit comprising an inlet and an outlet, said outlet adaptedto screw into the head of the steam finisher, the inlet adapted to beattached to a steam supply line, said inlet being extended to form acylinder having a head disposed towards said inlet, a port through saidhead, a valve member inserted through said port and threadedly attachedunitary to a piston forming an extension of said outlet, the head ofsaid valve member seating in said port, the head of said piston beingperforated to allow steam to pass through said outlet,

said valve member having a passage there'- through to permit steam toenter said outlet when said valve member is seated across said port insaid cylinder head, the inlet end and the outlet end of said steam valveunit being flanged, a compression spring surrounding the external sideof said cylinder and being held in operative position by the flanges,-said inlet and outlet being movable toward one another to permit theegress of steam through said outlet, the passage through said valvemember being open at all times.

6. A valve device as of claim including a pin through the passageextending through the valve member.

7. The combination in a steam finisher head of a valve operating unitcomprising a stud threadedly inserted through a partition dividing saidhead into two chambers and consisting of a sleeve threaded over the endof the stud projecting into one chamber, said sleeve having an inwardlyprojecting flange, said sleeve having ports leading therethrough intosaid chamber, said stud having a passage communicating with said ports,a sleeve disposed through the opening formed by the flange of thefirst-named sleeve and being connected with an operating button slidablydisposed and protruding through and above the upper outer surface ofsaid steam finisher head, the second sleeve being internally threadedand having a needle valve disposed therethrough and adapted to adjustthe amount of steam flowing through the passage in saidstud, said studprojecting into both chambers and being removable from either chamber,said button operable by the pressure of material being pressed acrossthe upper face of said finisher head.

8. A sub-combination of the steam garment finisher set including a steamvalve unit as of claim 6 whereby a limited continuous flow of steam ispermitted to flow into a garment finisher head, said head having a steampressure chamber, a partition and a steam vapor chamber, a needle valveassembly extending through said last named chamber and into the firstnamed chamber, and providing adjustment means to limit the flow of steambetween the first and second chamber.

9. A steam garment finisher head as of claim 7 and combining therewith asteam valve unit comprising an inlet and outlet, said outlet adapted toscrew into the head of the steam finisher, the inlet adapted to beattached to a steam supply line, said inlet being extended to form acylinder having a head disposed towards said inlet, a port through saidhead, a valve member inserted through said port and threadedly attachedunitary to a piston formingan extension of said outlet, the head of saidvalve member seatin in said port, the head of said piston beingperforated to allow steam to pass through said outlet, said valve memberhaving a passage there through to permit steam to. enter said outletwhen said valve member is seated across said port in said cylinder head,the inlet end and the outlet end of said steam valve unit being flanged,a compression spring surrounding the external side of said cylinder andbeing held in operative position by the flanges, said inlet and outletbeing movable toward one another to permit the egress of steam throughsaid outlet, the passage through said valve member being open at alltimes.

10. A sub-combination as of claim 5 including a clamping device havingoppositely disposed prongs for engagement with the flange surroundingthe inlet and the flange surrounding the outlet, said prongs straddlingthe opposite sides of the two flanges and compressing the describedspring thereby holding the valve unit in open position.

11. A sub-combination including a steam garment finisher head as ofclaim 1 and a valve capable of being attached to said head, said valvehaving means combined therewith movable by pressure exerted around saidhead to open said valve, said valve adapted to close automatically whenpressure on the head is released.

PERRY E. NORRIS.

